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(No ModeL) INVALID BED.

No. 520,576. Patented May29, 1894.

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To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PAT-ENT JEFFERSON B. SCEAROE, OF OHILLIOOTHE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN D. MINER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,576, dated May 29, 1894 Application iiled March 18, 1893.

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON B. SOEAROE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chil-` licothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Beds and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in invalid beds, but more particularly to that class wherein an elevating device is used to move the covered frame upon which the invalid rests, so as to vary the position of the patient in order to provide for the various conditions required in attendance upon the sick.

The invention'has special reference to the manner of Vconstructing the covered frame, and the manner in which it is adapted to' operate in connection with an improved elevating device.

The invention consists in certain improved features of construction and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this description.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of an invalid bed showlng the covered frame elevated to its highest point. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the bed showing the covered frame tilted so as to elevate one side. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the construction and manner of uniting the ends of the frame. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bed, showing the covered frame lowered in full lines, and the various positions it may assume in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the under side of the covered frame, showing the manner of securing the iiap. Fig. 6 shows the bed and frame folded for shipment or storage; and Fig. 7 is a detail showing the manner of passing the hoisting rope through the shaft.

Like letters of reference are used to denote l1ke parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings A, represents the bedstead, which is provided with the usual posts A', at

the head and foot; the invention being shown as applied to a folding or knock-down bed,

which may be constructed of either wood or serai No. 466,692. (no model.)

' iron and which has the necessary braces c,

for holding the legs in proper position when set up.

The hoisting mechanism B, is secured to the posts A', at the head of the bed and the shaft B', thereof extends from one side of the bed to the other. the hoisting ropes b, b, pass. Said shaft is mounted at one side of the bed, preferably the head, in a suitablevbracket B2, and at the other side of the bed a bracket or bearing B3, is adapted to receive the shaft B', so as to support it in proper position. One end of the shaft B', is provided with a large gear wheel C, at its outer end, which is in turn engaged by a small pinion O', also carried on a suitable stud or shaft c, which is adapted to receive the handle c', by which the hoisting of the covered frame D, is accomplished. Any retrograde movement of the frame D, after it Vhas been elevated, is prevented by the pawl b', engaging the gear wheel C, so as to lock y it against such movement. The arrangement of the hoisting gearing and locking pawl at one side of the bedvis preferable, and in fact necessary if the patient is to be moved by a single attendant, as by this arrangement all parts are under direct control.

At or near the top of the posts A', at the head and foot of the bed are small sheaves 'or pulleys a', and at or near the bottom of the posts at the foot are similar sheaves or pulleys c2. Over these pass the hoisting ropes or chains b, b. These ropes or chains pass through perforations b3, and around the shaft B', in such a manner as to give a suflicient bight or lock to the rope or chain, so that it will not slip when the power is applied through the medium of the handle c. From the shaft B', one end of the ropes b, b, passes to the end of the frame D, after passing over the pulleys or sheaves a', at the head of the bed. The other end passes under the bed,

thence around pulleys or sheaves a2, at the bottom, and a', at the top of the posts at the foot of the bed, to the foot of the frame D. A snap hook G, of any suitable construction is secured to the ends of the ropes b, b, and these hooks enter the eye-bolts F, which fasteu the frame D, together at their ends. The

Vframe D, which is covered with canvas or Through the shaft B',

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other suitable material E, consists of the end bars or frames D', and the side bars D2, so connected at their corn ers that they are readily separated. A supplemental frame d, at the head end of the frame is hinged in any suitable manner to the main frame D, and consists of the side bars d', and the end bar d2, secured in a similar manner to the frame D.

The covering E, of canvas or other suitable material has its sides and ends liemmed, being cut out at the corners so that the side and end bars of the main and supplemental frames D, d, may be inserted. At a proper point in the center of the covering a hole is cut for the convenience of the patient, and may be covered by a supplemental flap e, having one edge stitched to the covering and the other end free,but adapted to be secured so that it will be taut when not required to be let down. Thisis accomplished by means of a rod H, which passes through the eye bolts which are secured to the side bar of the frame D, and through the hem in the flap e, which is cut out to receive one of the eye-bolts. The making the flap taut is very necessary to the comfort of therpatient.

The-manner of securing the frame together by means of eye-bolts F, as shown in the drawings, is of greatimportance and practical utility, forby such an arrangement the soiled canvas or other covering may be quickly removed for the purpose of washing, and readily replaced. The bars are secured together by eye-bolts only and when these are removed the bars are free to be drawn out.

As constructed by me, the supplemental head frame d, is covered by the same canvas as the main portion of the frame, so that the whole covering is in one piece. The supplemental head frame d, is further provided with pivoted braces d2, so that the patient may be bolstered up when the frame is elevated too high for the ropesy to hold it in an inclined position, or when a more erect sitting posture is desired. If it is desired to change the position of the patient it is obvious that the snap hooks must be-inserted in the proper eye-bolts, and it is often necessary to make these changes rapidly. Areadily detachable connection such as is afforded by a snap hook is oftentimes absolutely essential. After the desired connection of the hoisting ropes has been made with the frame D, the attendant can easily bring the frame with the patient lying thereon into the requiredv position with no strain incident to lifting.

The folding or knock down feature of the bed frame is of great utility in places where space is an element which must be takenv into account. The posts A', are fastened by iron braces pivoted to the body of the bed A, and are adapted to fold and exactly t underneath the same, so that the whole when knocked down may be folded into compact form for the purpose of transportation or storage.

When it is desired to remove the covering E, for washing' or repair, the eyebolts F, are Withdrawn, and the bars constituting the frame D, and head frame d, may be withdrawn from lthe hems, after removing the slip pin from the hinge between the main.and supplemental frames, the hem being .slit at that point to permit of access to the hinge.

rlo replace the covering, the parts of the frames are passed through the hems-1n the sides and ends ofv the canvas as follows:- The side pieces of the short frame being detached from the main frame are passed through the side hems of the canvas from the head end and through a slit in the hem opposite the hinge. The side pieces of the main frame are then passed through the same slit in the hein until the hinge is opposite the slit. The short pieces are then attached to the long side pieces by replacing the slip pin in the hinge. The foot piece of the long frame and the head piece .of the short frame are then passed through the hems at the ends of the canvas and the parts are joined together at the corners by passing the eye-bolts therethrough and securing the nuts on the opposite side. The canvas thus providesa continuous covering extending over the main frame from the foot to the hinge and thence up `over the short head and shoulder supporting frame.

When it is desired to shift the position of the patient for any purpose and it becomes necessary to shift the connections ofthe hoisting ropes, it may be done with ease and rapidity by simply disengaging the snap hooks from the eye-bolts with which they may bev connected and instantly connecting the same with other bolts as maybe desired. .The four pieces composing the main or hammock frame being connected at the corners by detachable eye-bolts, and the short supplemental frame or head and shoulder supporty consisting of three pieces similarly connected at the corners thereof and having the free ends of their side pieces connected to the main frame by slip pin hinges, provides not only a simple and inexpensive construction, but one which may be readily taken apart to permit a new piece to be substituted in the event that any part becomes broken, the canvas covering being easily and quickly removed to permit of such repairs.

Froinwhat has been said it will be seen that quick adjustment of the frame, and ready removal of the covering are accomplished in an effective and simple mannenwhich will be appreciated by those familiar with thecare of and requirements attendant upon the nursing of the sick.

Having thus fully described niy invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an invalid bed, the hammock-frame composed of detachable side and end bars arranged in rectangular form and provided IOO IOS

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the side and end bars of the frame, and de-v tachable bolts for securing the overlapped ends of the frame-bars together, substantially as described.y

2. In an invalid bed, thecombination with the bedstead and the hoisting devices, of the hammock-frame composed of side and end bars detachably secured together by eye-bolts passing through their overlapped ends, and the canvas removably attached thereto; said eye-bolts serving the double purpose of securing said bars together and providing detachable connections to the hoisting ropes, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the bedstead and the hoisting devices, the hammock-frame composed of side and end bars having their overlapped ends secured together by detachable eye-bolts, a supplemental head -frame constructed in like manner and hinged to said hammock-frame; and a covering of suitable material adapted to receive the side and end bars of the frames g said detachable eye-bolts serving the double purpose of securing the frame bars together and receiving detachable connections ,on the ends of the hoisting ropes, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the folding or knock-down bedstead having posts at the head and foot thereof, each provided with a friction roll or sheave at or near its upper end, the shaft journaled in bearings secured to one pair of posts below the plane of the vsheaves thereon and provided at one side of the bed with a gear-wheel, a locking pawl engaging therewith, and a pinion meshing with said gear-Wheel and provided with a crank-handle; a pair of sheaves journaled upon the opposite pair of posts below the plane of the upper sheaves thereon, the hammock frame suspended by hoisting ropes which are secured to said shaft near its ends and pass over said sheaves, substantially as described, together with snap hooks on the free ends of the ropes engaging the eye-bolts on the hammock-frame, all constructed and arranged substantially as described, so as to adapt both bed and frame to be readily folded into compact form for storage or transportation, and to enable a single attendant to readily and quickly adjust and secure the hammock-frame in various positions in use, substantially as described.

.In testimony WhereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEFFERSON B. SCEARCE.

Witnesses:

T. KING WILSON, W. J. ATWELL. 

